THE SHEFFIELD Shield has been up and running for the past couple of months, showcasing some of the best first-class cricket Australia has to offer.

The big guns have been out and firing to start the fixture, with some of the higher-profile players stepping up for their respective states. There has been no shortage of eye-catching outings with the bat, with a number of triple figure scores in the first weeks of play.

With the tournament now taking a break for the Big Bash League and international matches, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at the biggest performers so far in the fixture.

Batting

Most Runs

Peter Handscomb (Victoria) – 571 runs at 81.57 per game
Cameron Bancroft (Western Australia) – 483 runs at 53.66 per game
Tim Ward (Tasmania) – 421 runs at 42.10 per game
Sam Whiteman (Western Australia) – 390 runs at 43.33 per game
Hilton Cartwright (Western Australia) – 365 runs at 45.62

Handscomb has been head and shoulders above the competition so far this season, establishing himself as the nation’s in form batsman thanks to a whopping average that stands at over 80 runs per game. He has exploded for triple digits in two matches in 2022/23, and should add to that once the season resumes. The class of Handscomb continues to shine through at 31 years of age, with an impressive strike rate of 66.31, and a mammoth top score of 281 not out. Bancroft continues to prove that he is probably too good for Shield level, averaging over 50 runs a game thanks to three scores of 100 or more throughout the season, while Ward has been carrying Tasmania’s top order. The appearance of three Western Australia players showcases how well the side has been performing at the crease.

Bowling

Most Wickets

Lance Morris (Western Australia) – 27 wickets at 3.33 runs per over
Mark Steketee (Queensland) – 25 wickets at 2.56 runs per over
Michael Neser (Queensland) – 24 wickets at 2.27 runs per over
Will Sutherland (Victoria) – 23 wickets at 2.57 runs per over
Jackson Bird (Tasmania) – 23 wickets at 2.30 runs per over

Morris has exploded onto the scene as one of Australia’s premier fast bowlers, and his strong form in the Sheffield Shield has seen a call up to the men’s national team. 27 wickets in five matches has seen him the most damaging player with ball in hand, bringing teams undone with his pace and seam, conjuring a wicket with ease seemingly. Steketee and Neser have been able to create the most formidable bowling duo in the competition, combining for 49 wickets across nine innings. The pace duo have been able to draw edges and find the stumps better than any pair in the competition, and have been largely responsible for Queensland’s success.